COVID 19 (Coronavirus) Message

As we are all aware, COVID 19 has not fully disappeared. Medical authorities say we now have an "Endemic;" meaning, it's here to stay, like the flu. This has prompted the telehealth vs. in-person debate.

I've surveyed most of my current clients and all new ones about meeting in the office. 99.5% indicate virtual meetings are fine, even preferred. Of the less than 1% who prefer in-person meetings, all have said they would still meet virtually if I don't go back to the office, which, at this point, is unlikely. Current plans to return to the office have been pushed back, probably until Summer 2025. Many in my profession think virtual counseling is here to stay. I agree. If I do start seeing people in person, I'll probably start with a hybrid plan. Hybrid means I'll continue to send out email notifications the morning of the appointment, will leave my computer up and running BUT open the front door to the office. If you want an in-person visit, I'll be there. If you still want telecounseling, I'll hear you log in and we can meet that way as we do now. In the case of office visits, I'm fully vaccinated (defined as being two weeks since my last shot, and being current, which includeds one or more booster shots). To visit my office, in person, you and every person who comes through my front door also will have to be fully vaccinated, and current with available boosters. No exceptions.

Currently, I conduct 100% of sessions using videocounseling. I use a program called Sessions (through Psychology Today) and, when that occasionally fails, DoxyMe. They are both HIPAA compliant (confidential) and FREE. The Fed suspended HIPAA regulations during the pandemic, but now that the pandemic is "over" we can no longer use other non-HIPAA compliant public formats like Facetime, DUO/MEET, Whats App, Signal or Skype. Some people only want to use the telephone without any video. This is OK with private pay patients and may but may not be OK if using insurance, which otherwise covers telecounseling (audio and video combined).

How it works: After our first contact, you send me completed forms as an email attachment (go to the "Telehealth" button on the left of this page for the links and instructions), and then on the morning of our appointment, I'll send you a link via email. (I do this as a courtesy, but you still have to keep track of appointments on your own, regardless. Sometimes emails don't arrive or systems are down.) You open the email at the appointment time and click the link. The software will ask you to put in your first name, enable the camera and microphone, and then click "Check In" or "Enter the waiting room." I set up the call from there. There are no downloads, no apps, no software to install and it's FREE.

Meanwhile, here's the other usual information...

THINKING OF THERAPY?

s therapy, counselor.)

Psychotherapy is a personal process involving change. Helping others change is what I do. Sometimes this involves one person, sometimes a family, sometimes adults, adolescents or children. It used to be about dynamic understanding of one's experiences, good or bad. These days, therapy focuses more on solutions and is brief. I like to do both. Often parents want simple answers about problems with children's behavior. Sometimes people end up in therapy because their social worker or the courts said they had to come. These situations are more about teaching. Sometimes couples want to make their relationship better. This is also about teaching, usually communication skills, but not always. Sometimes couples want to explore the nature of their relationship, enhancing, improving and refreshing. I help with all of these. Here's some of my information:

BIO AND PRACTICE INFORMATION

I live with my son and wife of 38 years in Southern California. I’m a volleyball aficionado, having played about forty years now. I have a main office in Escondido, CA and another I can use, as needed, in Encinitas. Both of these cover all of the San Diego North County areas.

Here's a little more about my practice. I am an informal, low-keyed warmer fuzzier type. But I deal directly with problems, using CBT, emphasizing support/non-judgment. I work on anxiety and depression and lots of general issues (see below). My practice is filled with marital/relationship and employment problems. I am a child psychologist, too, so I subspecialize in kids issues. Addiction issues are very common, with or without the 12 Step Programs. Most managed care programs are accepted, if that is best for the client. Here's a list of problem areas in which I've had training or direct experience in for over three decades. Where noted, I've provided links to an ebooks page, where you can find more information about each topic and what I've written.

SPECIALTIES

Addictions or Substance Abuse (See E-books)
ADHD/Learning Disabilities (See E-books)
Anger Management (See E-books)
Anxiety or Fears (Adjustment Reactions, GAD, Phobias, Panic Attacks, OCD, PTSD)
(See E-books)
Assertiveness (See E-books)*
(Asertividad...See E-books)
Bariatric Surgery Pre-Screening
Blended Families
Child or Adolescent Behavior Problems
(See E-books)
Child Visitation (E-books)
Co-Dependence
Depression/Bipolar Disorder (See E-books)
Dissociative Disorders
Divorce (See E-books)
Domestic Abuse or Violence
Eating Disorders
Elderly Persons Disorders
Gay/Lesbian Issues
Guilt (See E-books)
Impulse Control Disorders
Loss or Grief
Moods (See E-books)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD)
(See E-books)
Parenting (See E-books)
Personality Disorders
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
(See E-books)
Procastination (See E-books)
Psychosis
Relationships (E-books)*
(Por que las Relaciones Fallan... E-books)
Self Esteem (See E-books)
Sex Therapy
Teenagers (See E-books)
Thinking Disorders
Weight Control (See E-books) **

* This one is also in Spanish (See E-books)
** This one is also FREE.

Here's an overview of my services...

GENERAL

Gender: Male
Years in Practice: 38
Accepts Insurance: Yes

Accepted Insurance Plans: I’m a provider on about 100 insurance companies, EAP's or Managed Care Panels. I work with almost all of them because that's the state of mental health care. My rates are set by my contracts with the insurance companies; that is, although I bill at the industry standards for psychologists (higher than insurance rates), I accept insurance rates, minus any co-pays and/or deductibles. EAP's are special plans negotiated by your employer with the insurance companies. These plans have a limited number of visits but do not cost you anything. If you don't have or want to use insurance, my non-insured rate is $100 per 45 minute session for new patients. I try to keep my rates about 30% under market, so I don't offer a sliding scale. We can talk about your health insurance when you arrange your first visit, but first visit my Insurance Information page for a general overview of what you should know. Click Here.

CLIENT FOCUS

Ethnicity: Any
Gender: Any
Religious Orientation: Any
Gay/Lesbian/Trans/Poly: I’m straight but have a good number of great relationships with gay and lesbian clients.
Languages: English only (Estoy apprendiendo Castellano, pero...)
Ages: Adolescents, Adults, Children, Elders

TREATMENT PREFERENCES

Orientation: Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) Rational Emotive (RET) Humanistic Eclectic
Modality: Individuals (ages one to 101), Couples, Families

QUALIFICATIONS

Undergraduate School: Indiana University
Graduate School: USIU
Predoc Internship: San Diego County Mental Health
Postdoc Internship: Private Practice/Psychological Assistant
Year Graduated: 1982
Year Licensed: 1984
License No./State: PSY8534/ California
NPI's: 1124266796
1700870839

NEARBY TOWNS

Bonsall, Camp Pendleton, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Leucadia, Murrieta, Oceanside, Olivenhain, Pauma Valley, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitas, Ramona, Rancho Santa Fe, San Elijo, San Marcos, Solana Beach, Temecula, Valley Center, Vista.

Nearby Zip Codes: 92007 92023 92024, 92025, 92026, 92027, 92029, 92030,
92033, 92046, 92049, 92051, 92054, 92055, 92056, 92057, 92061, 92064,
92069, 92074, 92075, 92081, 92082, 92083, 92084, 92085, 92128, 92589,
92590, 92591, 92592,92593

County: San Diego